Finial for Window Treatment

ABSTRACT

A finial for a window treatment includes a decorative member. A connecting member is secured to the decorative member and is configured to removably secure the decorative member to, and support the decorative member from, a fabric portion of a window treatment.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to window treatments, and, inparticular, to a finial for a window treatment having an improvedconfiguration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Finials for use with window treatments are well known, and typicallycomprise a decorative member formed of, for example, wood, plastic, ormetal. The finial is typically secured to a frame from which a windowtreatment is suspended. One example of a common finial consists of adecorative wood member with a threaded screw projecting from a base endof the finial. The screw is threadingly received in the end of a rodfrom which drapes, curtains or other window treatments are hung.

It would be desirable to provide a finial for a window treatment thatreduces or overcomes some or all of the difficulties inherent in priorknown devices. Particular objects and advantages will be apparent tothose skilled in the art, that is, those who are knowledgeable orexperienced in this field of technology, in view of the followingdisclosure of the invention and detailed description of certainembodiments.

SUMMARY

The principles of the invention may be used to advantage to provide afinial for a window treatment with increased flexibility andportability, allowing a user to quickly and easily change the finialused on a particular window treatment, adapting to changing styles, newdesigns, or seasons, for example.

In accordance with a first aspect, a finial for a window treatmentincludes a decorative member. A connecting member is secured to thedecorative member and is configured to removably secure the decorativemember to, and support the decorative member from, a fabric portion of awindow treatment.

In accordance with another aspect, a finial for a window treatmentincludes a decorative member formed of a lightweight material. Aconnecting member is secured to the decorative portion and is configuredto removably secure the decorative member to a fabric portion of awindow treatment.

In accordance with a further aspect, a finial for a window treatmentincludes a decorative member having a first recess formed therein andformed of a foam material. A connecting member includes a base portionsecured in the first recess with adhesive and a pair of pins extendingoutwardly from the base portion. A pair of ribs is positioned on anexterior surface of the base portion.

Substantial advantage is achieved by providing a lightweight finial thatcan be removably secured to a window treatment. In particular, certainembodiments of a finial for a window treatment provide a user with theability to easily and efficiently secure a finial to the fabric portionof a window treatment in a removable manner. This is highly advantageoussince it allows the user to quickly change the finial for any number ofreasons including the availability of new designs and styles or toprovide a festive holiday look for a particular season.

These and additional features and advantages disclosed here will befurther understood from the following detailed disclosure of certainembodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of finials secured to a windowtreatment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the finial of FIG. 1, shown prior to itbeing secured to the window treatment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, in exploded form, of the finial of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view, shown partially cut away, of the windowtreatment of FIG. 1, with a finial secured to the fabric portion of thewindow treatment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of theconnecting member of the finial of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of theconnecting member of the finial of FIG. 1.

The figures referred to above are not drawn necessarily to scale andshould be understood to provide a representation of the invention,illustrative of the principles involved. Some features of the finialdepicted in the drawings have been enlarged or distorted relative toothers to facilitate explanation and understanding. The same referencenumbers are used in the drawings for similar or identical components andfeatures shown in various alternative embodiments. Finials as disclosedherein would have configurations and components determined, in part, bythe intended application and environment in which they are used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention may be embodied in various forms. An embodiment ofa window treatment 10 is shown in FIG. 1. A finial 12 is removablysecured at each of opposite ends of window treatment 10. In theillustrated embodiment, window treatment 10 is a valance, which istypically mounted proximate an upper edge of a window frame (not shownhere). It is to be appreciated that any type of window treatment can beused in accordance with the present invention including, but not limitedto, drapes, curtains, sheers, and swags.

Finial 12, seen in FIG. 2 prior to being secured to window treatment 10,is formed of a decorative member 14 and a connecting member 16.Decorative member 14 as seen here is a ball. It is to be appreciatedthat decorative member 14 can have any desired configuration, e.g.,pineapple or acorn shaped, or any other desired shape, and thatdecorative member 14 may have any desired color or combination ofcolors.

In the illustrated embodiment, connecting member 16 includes a pair ofpins 18 extending outwardly from decorative member 14. In use, as seenin FIG. 1, pins 18 are pierced into the gathers 17 of the fabric portion19 of window treatment 10, thereby removably securing finial 12 towindow treatment 10, as well as serving to support finial 12 from thefabric portion 19 of window treatment 10. Pins 18 may be formed ofmetal, e.g., stainless steel, or any other material with suitablestrength and rigidity to support the weight of finial 12 as it issuspended from the fabric portion 19 of window treatment 10. Pins 18 canhave any desired length. In certain embodiments, pins 18 are betweenapproximately 3½″ and 4½″ long.

Decorative member 14 may be formed of a lightweight or ultra-lightweightmaterial, thereby allowing the weight of finial 12 to be supported fromfabric portion 19 of window treatment 10 by way of pins 18. In certainembodiments, decorative member 14 is formed of a rigid foam material,e.g., polystyrene or urethane. In other embodiments, decorative member14 can be formed of plastic, e.g., hollow plastic, latex foam, naturalfoams such as soy or rice, or any combination thereof. For example,decorative member could have a foam interior core with a plasticexterior cover. Such a plastic cover can be clear or have any desiredcolor. Other suitable materials for decorative member 14 to provide avery light finial that can easily be supported by pins 18 will becomereadily apparent to those skilled in the art, given the benefit of thisdisclosure.

One embodiment of connecting member 16 is seen in FIG. 3, and includes abase portion 20 from which pins 18 extend. Base portion 20 may be formedof any suitable material including, for example, plastic. Base portion20 may be received in a first recess 22 formed in decorative member 14.In certain embodiments, such as those in which decorative member 14 isformed of a pliable or compressible material such as a foam, firstrecess 22 may not be pre-formed in decorative member 14 but, rather, isformed by pushing base portion 20 into decorative member 14.

Base portion 20 may be secured within first recess 22 with adhesive 24or simply held in place by friction-fit with decorative member 14. It isto be appreciated that other fastening means may be used to secured baseportion 20 to decorative member 14, and other suitable fastening meanswill become readily apparent to those skilled in the art, given thebenefit of this disclosure.

In certain embodiments, base portion 20 may include one or moreprojections such as ribs 26. Ribs 26 serve to increase the surface areaof base portion 20, thereby improving the securing of base portion 20 todecorative member 14.

The securing of finial 12 to window treatment 10 is shown in FIG. 4,where it can be seen that the gathers 17 of fabric portion 19 of windowtreatment 10 are seen surrounding a curtain rod 28. Curtain rod 28 issupported on a wall (not shown) or other suitable surface in knownfashion with a bracket or other suitable means. Pins 18 pierce gathers17, thereby securing finial 12 to window treatment 10 in removablefashion. Thus, it can be seen that finial 12 can easily and quickly beinstalled on and removed from window treatment 10, thereby providingflexibility and ease of use for the user.

In certain embodiments, as seen in FIG. 4, decorative member 14 mayinclude a second recess 30 configured to mate with an exterior of windowtreatment 10, allowing finial 12 to be positioned close to windowtreatment 10, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of finial 12 and windowtreatment 10. As illustrated here, second recess 30 is curved with aradius R, allowing finial 12 to be snugly fit against a corner of windowtreatment 10.

Another embodiment of connecting member 16 is seen in FIG. 5. Connectingmember 16 has a longitudinal axis L extending substantially parallel topins 18. In this embodiment, base portion 20 is curved aboutlongitudinal axis L. It is to be appreciated that connecting member 16can have any desired shape.

Another embodiment of connecting member 16 is seen in FIG. 6. In thisembodiment, each pin 18 has a substantially U-shaped form with a firstleg 30 secured within base portion 20 and a second leg 32 extendingsubstantially perpendicular to longitudinal base portion 20. With such aconfiguration, legs 32 of pins 18 are inserted vertically down intofabric portion 19 of window treatment 10. In certain embodiments, legs32 may actually extend over and capture curtain rod 28 upon which windowtreatment 10 is suspended.

In light of the foregoing disclosure of the invention and description ofvarious embodiments, those skilled in this area of technology willreadily understand that various modifications and adaptations can bemade without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Allsuch modifications and adaptations are intended to be covered by thefollowing claims.

1. A finial for a window treatment comprising, in combination: adecorative member; a connecting member secured to the decorative memberand configured to removably secure the decorative member to, and supportthe decorative member from, a fabric portion of a window treatment. 2.The finial of claim 1, wherein the connecting member includes a pinconfigured to pierce a fabric portion of a window treatment to removablysecure the decorative member to the window treatment.
 3. The finial ofclaim 1, wherein the connecting member comprises a base portion securedto the decorative member and at least one pin extending outwardly fromthe base portion.
 4. The finial of claim 3, further comprising at leastone rib on an exterior surface of the base portion.
 5. The finial ofclaim 3, wherein the base portion is secured to the decorative memberwith adhesive.
 6. The finial of claim 3, wherein the connecting memberhas a longitudinal axis, the base portion being curved about thelongitudinal axis.
 7. The finial of claim 3, wherein each pin issubstantially U-shaped having a first leg and a second leg, the firstleg being secured to the base portion.
 8. The finial of claim 1, whereinthe decorative member includes a second recess configured to receive aportion of a window treatment to which the finial is secured.
 9. Thefinial of claim 8, wherein the second recess is curved.
 10. The finialof claim 1, wherein the decorative member is formed of a foam.
 11. Thefinial of claim 1, wherein the decorative member is formed of plastic.12. A finial for a window treatment comprising, in combination: adecorative member formed of a lightweight material; a connecting membersecured to the decorative portion and configured to removably secure thedecorative member to a fabric portion of a window treatment.
 13. Thefinial of claim 12, wherein the connecting member comprises a baseportion secured to the decorative member and at least one pin extendingoutwardly from the base portion.
 14. The finial of claim 13, furthercomprising at least one rib on an exterior surface of the base portion.15. The finial of claim 13, wherein the base portion is secured to thedecorative member with adhesive.
 16. The finial of claim 13, wherein theconnecting member has a longitudinal axis, the base portion being curvedabout the longitudinal axis.
 17. The finial of claim 12, wherein thedecorative member includes a second recess configured to receive aportion of a window treatment to which the finial is secured.
 18. Thefinial of claim 17, wherein the second recess is curved.
 19. The finialof claim 12, wherein the decorative member is formed of one of a foamand plastic.
 20. A finial for a window treatment comprising, incombination: a decorative member having a first recess formed thereinand formed of a foam material; and a connecting member comprising: abase portion secured in the first recess with adhesive; a pair of pinsextending outwardly from the base portion; and a pair of ribs on anexterior surface of the base portion.